Vehicle-top.



w. 1. ELSOM.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATIO! FILED JULY 27.1914.

1,284,272. Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

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,7 WILLIAM "J. nrisoivr, orcon'rmiivn, new YORK, ASSIGNOR. 'ro CORTLAND IEORGING COMPANY, or CORTLAND, NEW YORK, A conronn'rion or NEW YORK.

VEHICLE-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed July 27, 1914. Serial No. 853,284.

To all whom it may concern: a

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. ELsoM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cortland, in the county of Cortland and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Vehicle-Top, of which the following isa specification.

This inventlon relates to carriage or vehicle covers or tops, and has for its object a particularly simple and eificient'arrangement of the bows andlinksorlevers whereby the movement of the front and intermediate bows is uniform, that is they I maintain a .certain relation to each other during the opening and closing of the top,

so that there isno binding or chafing of the covering or awning. Other objects will appear throughout the specification. The invention consists in the novel features of con struction hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference, is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side view of an automobile body provided with this top, showing the top as unfolded or up, the covering being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the positions of the bows when the top is folded, the covering being removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line A-A, Fig. 2.

This vehicle or automobile top comprises, generally, front and intermediate bows supported from the main bow, and means for transmitting the pivotal movement of the front and intermediate bow one to the otherduring the collapsing and unfolding action thereof.

The intermediate bow is here shown as pivoted to the brace connecting the main bow and the front bow and as extending beyond its pivot and connected by a link to the link connecting'themain bow and the front bow.

The bows usually include bow sockets located at opposite sides of the body of the automobile, and intermediate parts or bows, the ends of which are fitted into the bow sockets. Of course, the bow sockets and intermediate parts may be of one piece or otherwise formed. For convenience, the bow sockets are referred to herein as the sides of the bows, as it is immaterial, in so far as this invention is concerned, whether or not bow sockets are used.

r 1 is the main bow provided with a bracket 2 at each lower end which is pivoted at 3 to an automobile body. V I

4. is the rear bow pivoted at 5 to each bracket, in the rear of the bow l. 6 is the front bow. 7 designates the link pivoted at 8 to each side of the front bow and to each side at 9 of the main bow. The joint 8 is as seen in Fig. 1, what is called a stump or butt joint.

each side of the front bow at 10 in front of the pivot 8.

11 is the intermediate bow, each side of which is pivoted at 12 to the contiguous brace 10 between the ends thereof, each side of the bow 11 having a rearwardly extending arm 13 extending beyond the pivot 12. j 14 is a link connecting the rear arm 13 of each side of the intermediate bow, and the contiguous link 7 the link 14, being pivoted at 15 to the link 7 between the ends thereof. This link causes the front lever and intermediate bows to have a parallel movement, as the brace is pivoted to the front bow in front of the toggle joint, and the rear-end of the brace is held by the link H.

The front how 6, link 7, brace 10 and in termediate bow 11 constitute whatmight be called an outrigger, and this outrigger is provided withmeans for interlocking with the main bow when the bows are collapsed.

Said means, as here shown, consists of a concave seat or saddle 16 on the rear face of each link 7 and'arranged to seat on the front face of the side of the main how when the top is collapsed.

This top is particularly advantageous in that owing to the connections between the intermediate bow 11 and the link 7 and the relative arrangement of the brace, chafing of the fabric is avoided as the movement of the front and intermediate bows is uniform, and hence the operation of the top is easy and satisfactory.

Although my invention here shown is applied to a carriage or automobile, it can be used in any situation requiring a collapsible awning.

What I claim is l. A vehicle top comprising a main bow, a front bow, a link pivoted to each side of the front bow and to the side of then lain bow, a brace pivoted to the side of the main bow above the link and to the front bow infront of the pivot thereof, an intermediate bow pivoted to the brace betweenthe ends thereof, and movable means connecting the intermediate bow and the link,-substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A vehicle top comprising a main bow,

a front how, a link pivoted to each side of the front bow and to each side of the main bow, a brace pivoted to the side of the main I a front bow, alink pivoted to each side of the main bow and to each side of the front bow forming a togglextherewith, abracepivoted to the main bow above'the link and to, I

the front bow in front of the pivot between the front bow and the link, a stop for limiting, when the top is up, the relative movement of the link and the brace, an 'intermediate bowv pivoted to the brace between the ends thereof and having a rearwardly eX- tending arm, and a link connecting the arm and the first-mentioned link between the ends thereof, substantially'as and for the purpose described. 4 d 1 In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence'oftwo attesting witnesses, at Cortland, inthe county of Cortlandfln the State of New York, this 11th day of July, 1914.

WILLIAM J. mason Witnesses: 1 I

PIERCE F; MOM/mus, FRANKV M. LIToHENniL] Y Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner otPatents,

v Washington, D. G. I 

